Monthi Feast Celebrations at Kanajar

🕓 September 8, 2010

Kanajar, Sep 8: The Nativity Feast, known as Monthi Fest in Konkani, which
is the birthday of Virgin Mary the mother of Jesus Christ, also has the Mangalorean
traditional and cultural significance as a harvest festival. For the Konkan Catholics
of the west coast of India, whose ancestral occupation was agriculture, it is the time
of the year to thank mother earth for the bounteous crop they received. In modern times
it also the day of family reunion as the family members from far and wide gather and
together they feast on the lunch of vegetables. For the children it is the feast of
flowers as they get to offer a variety of flowers to Mother Mary.

Kanajar parishioners celebrated the Monthi Feast with fervor at the Kanajar
Sauharda Bhavan. The celebration began with the blessing of the new crop (paddy
stalks) followed by the showering of flowers by the children in front of the
image of infant Mary. The guest priest Rev. Fr Valerian Mendonca, Director of
Sandesha Foundation Mangalore, was the main celebrant. The holy mass was
concelebrated by parish priest Rev. Fr. Alwyn D'Cunha.

The blessed crop was ditributed to the people along with the snacks. As per the
tradition the sugar cane was distributed to all the people.